Sound and Mechanical Waves
As the name suggests, mechanical waves must travel through something, a solid, liquid or gas. Although there are several modes of wave motion, they all share the fact that the motion is transferred from one region to the next, essentially by particles bumping into each other. The collisions cover small distances, but happen very frequently and in large numbers, allowing the wave to travel quickly. A common misunderstanding is that the wave transfers material from place to place, but little or no transfer takes place.
Just for fun (NO GRADE!) see what you know about Sound Waves before we begin this Unit.
We will look at these questions again (STILL NO GRADE!) at the end of the Unit, when we review for the Unit Test.
What are some ways to create a sound?
For each of the ways to create a sound, can you think of a musical instrument?
How do we hear sounds?
About how fast does sound travel in Air, in Water, in Steel ?
Why can you hear around a corner, but not see around a corner?
What is meant by the Wavelength of a sound,?
What is meant by the Frequency of a sound,?
What are the lowest, and highest frequencies you can hear?
Why don't earphones need big woofers to sound good?
As the name suggests, mechanical waves must travel through something, a solid, liquid or gas. Although there are several modes of wave motion, they all share the fact that the motion is transferred from one region to the next, essentially by particles bumping into each other. The collisions cover small distances, but happen very frequently and in large numbers, allowing the wave to travel quickly. A common misunderstanding is that the wave transfers material from place to place, but little or no transfer takes place.
Just for fun (NO GRADE!) see what you know about Sound Waves before we begin this Unit.
We will look at these questions again (STILL NO GRADE!) at the end of the Unit, when we review for the Unit Test.
What are some ways to create a sound?
For each of the ways to create a sound, can you think of a musical instrument?
How do we hear sounds?
About how fast does sound travel in Air, in Water, in Steel ?
Why can you hear around a corner, but not see around a corner?
What is meant by the Wavelength of a sound,?
What is meant by the Frequency of a sound,?
What are the lowest, and highest frequencies you can hear?
Why don't earphones need big woofers to sound good?